adminFatima Bulla
CHURCHES have been urged to adopt hospital wards as a more gainful measure to communities than occasional donations. While acknowledging the immense role of donations, Chitungwiza General Hospital public relations manager Mrs Audrey Tasaranarwo said adopting wards ensured continuous, significant development.
She was speaking at a reception marking adoption of the institution’s male medical ward 4 by Hospital and Prisons Ministries, who promised to provide bed linen and toiletries among other needs.
“Look at our Ward 3, which received great support from one organisation. They renovated the entire ward, tiled it and put glass cubicles making the ward more private.
“It’s different from Ward 4, which upon entry patients have no privacy and have other needs,” said Mrs Tasaranarwo.
Ward 4 holds 44 males with high blood pressure, malaria, pneumonia, malaria, meningitis and renal conditions. “It (adoption) helps alleviate pressure on the budget and resources on the hospital can be channelled somewhere. If organisations can adopt some wards it helps lessen the burden to the hospital because the economic situation is not looking good.
“And we all have a mandate to ensure the success operation of the hospital because it belongs to the community. If the hospital fails we are all to blame,” added Mrs Tasaranarwo.
Sister Rosa Gapare, who is responsible for Ward 4, said patients there required linen, toiletries and drugs, among other resources.
“Some of the patients don’t have much money to pay so we have been promised that Hospitals and Prisons Ministries will be covering those shortages,” Sr Gapare said.
President of the Hospital and Prisons Ministries, Dr Silumbu, said: “We are focusing on providing blankets and bed linen by end of this month. It doesn’t help as a pastor to just say touch your car, touch your aeroplane (as a prophecy) yet you can’t touch patients’ lives.
“These people are working under serious difficult conditions so much that they are burdened in the event of the death of patients.
“Having that conscience kills a doctor when they know how to help a patient but have not the means or drugs to do so. We want the fathers to come and pray. But above prayer help supply,” Dr Silumbu said
Chairman of the pastors committee working with Chitungwiza General Hospital, Bishop Clement Chisango, said they were – among other things – co-ordinating fundraising projects.
“All the pastors come through us because the most important thing is to know what the pastor is planning to preach as motivation to the sick. Because we have had some who preach to a patient that the sickness afflicting them is a punishment from God we want to prevent that. This has happened mostly with patients who were HIV positive,” Bishop Chisango said.
Apart from the regulatory role, the pastors committee also solicits for material support from local business people and musicians. The initiative has seen artistes like Alick Macheso hosting fundraising shows in Chitungwiza.
“We see objectives being fulfilled because these are the fruits of pastors who attend our general meetings who go on to provoke support from their communities,” added Bishop Chisango.
The role of churches in providing physical and spiritual needs cannot be underestimated.
In May, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Revelation of Hope Health Expo provided over 3 000 Chitungwiza residents with free medical care.
Mrs Tasaranarwo said Bethseda Apostolic Church delivered blankets to their maternity ward, while the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints brought wheelchairs and blankets.
Bibles, fruits and general cleaning is also provided for by these faith-based organisations.
Online Reporter